Sr. Electrical Construction Project Engineer

SpaceX
Starbase, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to experienced electrical engineers with construction management expertise working in high-voltage industrial infrastructure and space exploration domains.

Best fit for

  • Experienced electrical engineers with construction management expertise and a track record in industrial power systems
    — “manage all aspects of multi-discipline electrical construction projects in the field and office
  • Candidates who have led large-scale electrical infrastructure projects in high-voltage, medium-voltage, and low-voltage systems
    — “Experience managing multiple large-scale electrical/vertical projects (substations, manufacturing campuses, industrial power)
  • Individuals with a background in electrical infrastructure for manufacturing or launch operations
    — “This role is focused on delivering the electrical backbone — from the high-voltage substation down to the low-voltage racks and BESS — that will power SpaceX’s Starbase operations.

Things to consider

  • This role requires physical endurance and exposure to hazardous conditions, including working at heights and with energized equipment
    — “Ability to work at elevated heights (200+ feet) and around energized/high-voltage equipment
  • Candidates must be prepared for irregular work hours and potential weekend work due to operational demands
    — “Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed
  • This role has strict ITAR compliance requirements, limiting eligibility to specific U.S. residents or those eligible for authorizations
    — “To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national...

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in resolving electrical design and construction conflicts in real-time
    — “Resolve design and construction conflicts in the field in real-time
  • Demonstrate familiarity with electrical shop drawings, one-lines, and protection schemes
    — “Experience reading, reviewing, and approving electrical shop drawings, one-lines, protection schemes
  • Emphasize skills in power capacity planning and load growth for large-scale industrial sites
    — “Develop tools and approaches to supporting electrical space allocation, power capacity planning
  • Showcase ability to manage electrical contractors, vendors, and OEMs for complex systems
    — “Interact with electrical contractors, fabricators, OEMs (switchgear, transformers, BESS, UPS)
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • on-time and under-budget delivery
  • electrical project scheduling
  • cost control
  • commissioning coordination
  • real-time conflict resolution
Typical background
5+ years of electrical engineeringpower systems engineeringconstruction management

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical EngineeringProject ManagementHigh-voltage SystemsMedium-voltage SystemsLow-voltage SystemsBESSConstruction Management

Preferred

Starship ProductionLaunch OperationsElectrical Infrastructure

Stack & domain

Electrical EngineeringPower Systems EngineeringCivil EngineeringMechanical EngineeringConstruction ManagementProject ManagementTeam CollaborationProblem-solvingElectrical InfrastructurePower SystemsConstruction Projects

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ENGINEER

As a member of the SpaceX construction team at Starbase, you will design, build, and activate some of the world’s most technically advanced electrical infrastructure — from high-voltage substations through medium-voltage distribution to low-voltage production, launch, and facility power systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). We execute complex electrical construction projects and infrastructure improvements from cradle to grave. You will operate with autonomy to solve diverse and complex power-system problems, excel at managing multiple projects at a time, and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You will work with other construction engineers, electrical contractors, equipment vendors, utilities, architects, and internal customers to deliver reliable, high-capacity electrical systems that support Starship production, test, and launch operations. All SpaceX construction engineers serve additionally as project managers and supers — this is a construction management role per industry standards. The position is based at Starbase, TX.

This role is focused on delivering the electrical backbone — from the high-voltage substation down to the low-voltage racks and BESS — that will power SpaceX’s Starbase operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee and own the full lifecycle of electrical construction projects (high-voltage substations, transformers, switchgear, BESS, production and launch-site power distribution, UPS, generators, and low-voltage systems) with on-time and under-budget delivery

Manage all aspects of multi-discipline electrical construction projects in the field and office; act as overall construction project manager and extreme owner

Perform project control tasks including electrical project scheduling, cost control, and commissioning coordination

Interact with electrical contractors, fabricators, OEMs (switchgear, transformers, BESS, UPS), utilities, and internal customers

Resolve design and construction conflicts in the field in real-time, including high-voltage, medium-voltage, and low-voltage systems

Provide budgetary costs based upon the preliminary electrical scope of the project

Gather proposals from electrical engineers, contractors, and vendors; assign contracts upon receipt of all proposals

Facilitate city, county, utility, and governmental approvals (including interconnection, permitting, and environmental)

Coordinate project implementation, equipment delivery, installation, testing, and track project status through energization and turnover

Coordinate with end users, facilities, and operations teams for building electrical operations, maintenance, and BESS/facility power reliability

Develop tools and approaches to supporting electrical space allocation, power capacity planning, and load growth across the Starbase site

Coordinate electrical real-estate and utility planning functions as needed

Take on new electrical infrastructure projects ad-hoc as the business needs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, power systems engineering, or a related field (civil, mechanical, or construction management with strong electrical experience also considered)

5+ years of professional experience in electrical construction, power systems engineering, substations, industrial/manufacturing electrical infrastructure, BESS, or facilities electrical management

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

7+ years of experience in high-voltage substations, medium-voltage distribution, industrial/manufacturing electrical systems, or BESS construction/project management

Professional Engineer (PE) License (electrical)

Experience managing multiple large-scale electrical/vertical projects (substations, manufacturing campuses, industrial power)

Knowledge of processes of jurisdictional permitting, utility interconnection, and/or environmental agencies for electrical infrastructure

Strong understanding of electrical disciplines: high-voltage substations, transformers, switchgear, protection & control, grounding, BESS, UPS, generators, low-voltage distribution, and industrial power architecture

Experience with project management of major electrical construction projects including estimating, cost control, schedule, contractor management, and commissioning

Experience reading, reviewing, and approving electrical shop drawings, one-lines, protection schemes, fabrication drawings, blueprints, and technical manuals

Large-scale manufacturing, launch/test site, BESS, or power facility experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work at elevated heights (200+ feet) and around energized/high-voltage equipment (with proper training and PPE)

Physical effort with lifting and carrying materials or equipment (up to 25 lbs.)

Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments — heat, cold, rain, coastal/high-wind conditions — as well as indoor production, launch-site, and substation environments

Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, noise, and electrical hazards

Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational, test, launch, and commissioning needs; flexibility required

Valid driver’s license

Occasional travel may be required to support projects at other sites

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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